In communities across the globe, an environmental crisis continues to escalate. Our dependence on plastic, a material designed to last forever but often used just once, is causing devastating harm to our planet and potentially to ourselves.
Every minute, over one million plastic bottles are purchased worldwide, with 91% of all plastic never being recycled. The average plastic bag is used for just 12 minutes before being discarded, taking a minimum of 10 years to degrade while it releases chemicals into the environment, harming all ecosystems indiscriminately.
Created in the early 20th century and mass-produced since the 1950s, plastic was marketed as a revolutionary material that would transform our lives – and it undoubtedly has. But this transformation has come with a devastating environmental cost that wasn’t anticipated.
Our relationship with plastic has fostered a throwaway culture of unprecedented scale. We’ve become accustomed to using items once and discarding them without thought, creating a linear economy that extracts resources and generates waste at an alarming rate.
The production of plastic is inextricably linked to the fossil fuel industry, with over 99% of plastics made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels. Manufacturing plastic releases approximately 400 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, equivalent to the emissions from 116 coal-fired power plants.
When released into our environment, plastic wreaks havoc on ecosystems. Over 700 marine species are now threatened by plastic pollution, with 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and one million seabirds killed by plastic pollution annually. Microplastics have been found in the deepest ocean trenches and on the highest mountain peaks.
The health implications are equally concerning. Microplastics have been detected in human blood, placenta, and lungs, to name a few. Chemicals used in plastic production, such as phthalates and BPA, have also been linked to hormonal disruptions, reproductive issues, and certain cancers.
To truly address this crisis, we must shift our focus upstream ‒ cutting plastic production at its source through bold, systemic policy changes. This goes hand in hand with driving the investment and development of sustainable, plastic-free alternatives that align with both environmental and human health.
We’re proud to collaborate with trailblazing organisations such as A Plastic Planet and City to Sea, who are championing progressive legislation and public awareness. At the same time, innovators like Teysha Technologies and Xampla are pioneering breakthrough materials designed to safely return to nature ‒ proving that sustainable solutions are not just possible, but already underway.
This is a pivotal moment. By embracing ambitious policy and investing in next-generation materials, we have a unique opportunity to reshape our economy and repair our relationship with the natural world. A plastic-free future is entirely within our reach.
Annagreta Isabella Amadio, Account Executive at Higginson Strategy